Electrically operated flush valve



Sept. 29, 1936. 1 n ANDREWS ELEGTRIGALLY OPERATED FLUSH VALVE Filed Jan. 22, 1956 mnww..

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ATTORNEY' Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED FLUSHA VALVE John D. Andrews, Washington, D. C.

Application January 22, 1936, Serial No. 60,330

3 Claims.

This invention relates to electrically operated ilush valves and has for an object to provide a novel solenoid and circuit closer to maintain the ush valve open until the float ball movesdownward to its limit of movement upon the receding water level in the tank.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a novel circuit maker and breaker to interrupt the flow of current to the l0 solenoid when the float ball has reached its limit of movement to allow the flush valve to againseat in order that the tank may rell.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few strong simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in View the invention consists of certain novel details of con- 20 struction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modications may be resorted to Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from therspirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

The figure is a diagrammatic view of the invention applied to a flush tank, the latter being shown in full lines.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, a conventional flush tank is shown comprising a tank Ill, a flush valve II 35 controlling the ush pipe I2, the valve having a vertical stem I3 which extends through a tubular guide I4 mounted on a bracket arm I5 which projects from the overflow pipe I6.

The stand pipe II is connected in the usual manner to the water supply pipe I8 and is equipped at the top with a bracket I9 for pivotally mounting the stem 20 of the float ball 2 I. The stem is provided at the end opposite the ball with an integral arcuate finger 22 one end of which is pivoted to the bracket I9, as shown at 23, and the other end of which is adapted to impinge against the outlet valve 24 of the stand pipe and hold the valve closed when the float ball is in normal raised position.

All of the above described parts are of the conventional and well known flush tank construction.

In carrying out the invention a solenoid 25 is suitably mounted in the tank above the valve stem I3 and the latter is provided at the top with an integral solenoid core 26. The core is slidably fitted in the solenoid and extends for the greater portion of its length below the solenoid when the valve Il is seated. When they solenoid is energized the core is withdrawn upwardly within the solenoid and lifts the Valve to permit the flushing water to escape through the flush pipe I2.

A plug 2l of non-magnetic material, such as brass for instance, is loosely mounted in the upper end of the solenoid and is provided with a stop pin 28 which bears upon the top of the solenoid and supports the plug at its lower limit of movement. The plug is provided on the top face with a switch contact 29 which is insulated from the plugby a blank 3l) of insulating material.

The plug is pushed upwardly by the rising core 26 until the switch contact 29 bridges two stationary switch contacts 3l which are suitably mounted in the flush tank above the plug and insulated from the flush tank in any preferred manner. The plug forms a circuit closer to maintain the solenoid 25energized and the valve I I held in raised position until the flushing water has all escaped from the tank, as will presently be de.- scribed in detail. Y

A switch 32 is slidably mounted on a rod 33 which is pivoted at the lower end, as shown at 3,4, on the stem 2li of the float ball 2 I. The switch is insulated from the rod by blanks 350i insulating material. The switch 32 may be in the form of a single blade pivoted at one end and swingable to engage a stationary switch contact 36 when the oat ball stem is in raised position, as shown in full lines, and swingable out of engagement with the switch contact when the float ball stem is in lowered position, as shown by dotted lines.

The circuit wiring is as follows. From the battery 31 a circuit wire 38 is led to the pivoted switch 35 and a circuit wire 39 is led from the switch contact 36 to one end of the coil of the solenoid. A circuit wire il@ is led from the other end of the coil of the solenoid through a push button switch 4I, located exteriorly of the ush tank within convenient reach of the operator, and is connected to the battery by a circuit wire 42. When the push button 4I is closed current from the battery will energize the solenoid 35 whereupon the core 46 will be withdrawn upwardly into the solenoid to simultaneously open the valve II and raise the circuit closer plug 2l until the switch contact 29 bridges the stationary switch contacts 3|.

One of these latter contacts is connected by a circuit wire 43 to the wire 4) and the other is connected by a circuit wire 44 to the wire 42.

Consequently when the contact 29 bridges the Vcontacts l3| current will then ow from the battery through the wires 42, 44, 43, solenoid 25, Wire 39, switch 32 and wire 38, whereby the solenoid is maintained energized and the valve Il is maintained in raised position.

As the iiushing water escapes past the open valve Il into the flushing pipe I2 the float ball 2l will ride down upon the receiving water level until it reaches a position level with the valve seat, as shown in dotted lines. At this moment the rod 33 will be lowered by the valve stem 20 sufficiently to permit a head 45 on the rod to strike the upper insulating blank 36 as the rod slides downwardly through the insulating blank and the switch 32 and open the switch to the dotted line position shown. Whereupon the circuit from the battery through the solenoid will be broken at the moment the switch 32 disengages from the switch contact 36 and permits the solenoid to become deenergized and allow the core 36 to drop and thereby permit the valve Il to close by gravity as is customary.

As the core 36 drops the circuit closing plug 2l will likewise drop until the stop pin 28 again rests upon the top of the solenoid, at which time the circuit closer will again be in set position ready for the next operation. When the ball iloat rises to shut oil" the water valve 34 the rod 33 is lifted by the iioat stem and closes the switch 32 so that the solenoid may again be energized as above described by operation of the push button switch.

It will thus be seen that the operation of the device is positive, that the circuit closers are strong, simple and durable and are disposed considerably above the water level so that their long life and durability will be promoted, and that the device may be readily installed on ush tanks now in use, as well as those in the process of construction.

From the aboveV description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a flush tank, a iiush valve having an upright stem, a magnet above the stem adapted to attract the stem and open the flush valve when the magnet is energized, a manually controlled circuit for energizing the magnet, a second circuit for maintaining the magnet energized after the manually controlled circuit is opened, switch contacts in the second named circuit, a circuit closer actuated by said stem to bridge the contacts and close the second named circuit, a ball float having a stem, and a switch in the manually controlled circuit actuated by the ball float stem to open said circuit when the ball float is at its lowest limit of movement to zie-energize the magnet and permit the valve to seat whereby the tank i may refill.

2. In a flush tank, a Hush valve having an upright stem, a solenoid core fixed to the upper end of the stem, a solenoid receiving the core, a manually controlled circuit for energizing the solenoid, a second circuit for maintaining the solenoid energized after the first named circuit is opened, switch contacts in the second named circuit, a circuit closer loosely mounted in the solenoid above and spaced from the'core, upward movement of the core when the solenoid is energized opening the ilush Valve and simultaneously dislodging the circuit closer upwardly to bridge said contacts and make the second named circuit, a iloat ball having a stem, and a switch in the iirst named circuit connected to the float ball stern and adapted to open said circuit when the oat ball recedes to its downward limit of movement to de-energize the solenoid and permit the ush valve to seat whereby the tank may refill.

3. In a flush tank, a flush valve having a stem, a magnet for attracting the stem to open the valve, a manually controlled circuit for energizing the magnet, a second circuit for maintaining the magnet energized after the rst named circuit is opened, a switch operated by upward movement of said stem to make the second named circuit, a float ball having a stem, a rod connected to the stem, a pivoted switch in the first named circuit through which the rod is loosely engaged and a head on said rod above the switch, downward movement of the stem when the ball recedes moving said head to engage said switch and open the iirst named circuit to de-energize the magnet and permit the ilush valve to seat Whereby the tank may rell.

JOHN D. ANDREWS. 

